Sedalia, MO – October 23, 2025 -The City of Sedalia proudly congratulates the Sedalia Public Library on being selected to receive a $10,000 gift from the Carnegie Corporation of New York as part of Carnegie Libraries 250, a national initiative honoring the nation’s Carnegie libraries in recognition of the upcoming 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Scottish immigrant and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie funded the construction of 1,681 free public libraries across the United States between 1886 and 1917. Of those, roughly 1,280 continue to actively serve their communities today, including 33 historic locations in Missouri. Opened in 1901, the Sedalia Public Library stands among the earliest and most enduring of these institutions, still operating within its original Carnegie building. The upcoming anniversary year also marks another milestone for Sedalia’s library, which will celebrate its own 125th anniversary in 2026.
“This gift honors the history of Carnegie Libraries and the role they have played in communities nationwide for more than a century. We are honored to receive such a generous gift,” said Jamie Sparks, Director of the Sedalia Public Library.
Dame Louise Richardson, president of Carnegie Corporation of New York and former head of the University of Oxford, reaffirmed the organization’s longstanding mission rooted in Carnegie’s original vision. “Our founder, Andrew Carnegie, who championed the free public library movement of the late 19th century, described libraries as ‘cradles of democracy’ that ‘strengthen the democratic idea, the equality of the citizen, and the royalty of man.’ We still believe this and are delighted to celebrate our connection to the libraries he founded.”
The Sedalia Public Library will receive its $10,000 gift in January 2026. The funding may be used at the library’s discretion to celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary, strengthen the library’s mission, and further enhance services for local residents.
“This recognition is not only a testament to the legacy of our historic library, but also to the community of patrons, families, and learners who continue to support its mission,” said Mayor Andrew Dawson. “We are proud of this honor and deeply grateful to the Sedalia Public Library staff and Board of Trustees for their ongoing dedication to literacy, education, and public enrichment in our city.”
Community members are invited to celebrate this moment in history by sharing their personal Sedalia Public Library memories, photos, and stories at carnegielibraries.org.
For more information about the Carnegie Libraries 250 initiative, visit carnegie.org.
